Juves Conte appeals against ban

20 August 2012 04:46

Juventus coach Antonio Conte and his deputy Angelo Alessio on Monday began their bid to overturn a lengthy ban from football for failing to report suspicions of match-fixing at a previous club.

An Italian football federation (FIGC) panel earlier this month banned Conte for 10 months and Alessio for eight for not informing the authorities of possible corruption in two matches involving their former club Siena during the 2010-11 season.

Their appeal to the federation began at 1200 GMT and was being heard alongside other challenges from clubs, players and coaches against whom sanctions were imposed. The hearings are due to last until Thursday, two days before the new season begins.

Conte and Alessio were accompanied to the hearing by the Italian champions' director-general Beppe Marotta and three lawyers.

Their bans were part of an inquiry into the so-called "calcioscommesse" or illegal football betting scandal that led to a wave of arrests across Italy and even saw searches at the Italian national squad's hotel before Euro 2012.

Among those arrests was Lazio captain Stefano Mauri. Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci, however, was cleared of wrong-doing in relation to a match he played against Udinese in May 2010 while at Bari. Team-mate Simon Pepe was also cleared.

Conte and Alessio's ban will remain in place until the outcome of the appeal.